APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

Scroll down and rollover titles to change screen image or click on title to view image.

Northern Star Coral
Astrangia poculata ?
- close-up 1

Northern Star Coral
Astrangia poculata ?
- small colony on crab trap 1

Northern Star Coral
Astrangia poculata ?
- small colony on crab trap 2

Northern Star Coral
Astrangia poculata ?
- small colony on crab trap 3

Northern Star Coral
Astrangia poculata ?
- Stone crab trap with coral 1

This non-native species of coral was found by Dr. Paul Gainey, on part of a Stone crab trap that had drifted across the Atlantic from the coast of Florida. The trap was found at Long Rock Station, near Marazion, Cornwall. 23.01.16.

The coral here is thought to be Astrangia poculata, a species with a widespread distribution on the east coast of the United States, and a species known to be a rafting species on anthropogenic material.

Ref: Long-distance transport of a West Atlantic stony coral on a plastic raft. Ecology 99(10):2402-2404. Bert W Hoeksema, Kevin Pedoja and Yohann Poprawski.

The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help

people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.